The government has shed light on its opposition to North Korea's proposal of simultaneously resolving the issues of suspended tours to Mount Geumgang and families separated by the Korean War. 
 
Speaking at a forum hosted by the Kwanhun Club on Thursday, Seoul's Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo addressed the disagreement with Pyongyang during last week’s inter-Korean talks.
 
The unification minister said that although it may be a disappointment for separated families, the government cannot abandon its principles.
 
Hong explained that it is improper to resolve the two items in a package deal, identifying them as touchstones of South Koreans' safety and inter-Korean ties.
 
The minister said that although the recent inter-Korean vice-ministerial discussions were fruitless, it would be better to maintain the current framework without raising the ranks of delegates or introducing a different form. 
 
Hong also said there was no need to discuss a summit between the two Koreas at the moment. He said it was not appropriate to approach the matter as if it were necessary to hold talks before the end of President Park Geun-hye's term.